A lot of pain that occurs in the upper back and neck is due to muscles becoming too tight. The tight muscles do not allow as much blood into them as is needed and therefore they do not get the energy and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Therefore tight muscles weaken and then tighten up further, so a viscous circle has begun.

Causes:

Possible causes include:

overuse creating micro tears in the muscles, the muscles then tighten up to protect themselves which may result in muscle spasms, contractures and pain

bad posture increases the work the muscles of the back and neck have to do

Another possible cause of upper back pain is Scheuermann's Disease, a hereditary disease that mainly affects growing boys. It is the most common postural abnormality of the spine in the younger athlete. Children complain of acute pain in the upper back and in later years the upper spine (thoracic) may become more rounded (this is called kyphosis).